Youth Representations at Paulo Freire Family Farm School – Acaiaca-MG

Abstract

This article aims to map the main representations of youth and rural youth in the educational context of Paulo Freire Family Farm School, located in Acaiaca, Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais. The perspective of this study is qualitative. Therefore, semiestructured interviews were conducted with eleven students and school professionals and focus groups with thirty high school students belonging to the third grade. The data were analyzed with emphasis on theories of social representations. Aspects such as responsibility, interest in knowing and learning the new, making friends and communication appeared as the most predominant representations of youth in this school context. It was noticed that the elements that gave meaning to representations of youth are universal aspects of "being young". On the other hand, the representations that addressed the differences between rural youth and urban youth were also significant.